With less than 2 weeks from the Dec. 12, UFC 107 showdown, we take a look at the entire fight card and discuss a couple of notable match-ups.

UFC Lightweight Champion BJ Penn takes on the always intense Diego Sanchez in what promises to be a fast paced, exciting fight. Penn is one of the best MMA fighters in the world and has held the UFC Welterweight title before setting his sight on the lightweight division.

Sanchez won a contract with the UFC after winning The Ultimate Fighter against Kenny Florian, becoming the middleweight winner for the first season of the Spike TV reality show. Since his drop to lightweight early in 2009, he’s been on a tear but, will he have the skills to topple “The Prodigy”?

Frank Mir (12-4) vs. Cheick Kongo (14-5-1) has a lot riding on the fight for these too. Mir is a two-time former UFC heavyweight champion and has completely dedicated himself to avenging his loss to current heavyweight champ, Brock Lesnar. Mir has recently stated that his sole purpose and motivation is a rematch with Lesnar who, will be out do to illness for at least 6 months.

Kongo, on the other hand, is trying to prove he’s the man that should be given the title shot with Lesnar and wants to make Mir a stepping-stone to his cause. If Mir has over looked Kongo, he’s in for a long, painful night.

Main Bouts:

B.J. Penn (14-5-1) vs. Diego Sanchez (21-2)

Frank Mir (12-4) vs. Cheick Kongo (14-5-1)

Jon Fitch (19-3) vs. Mike Pierce (10-1)

Kenny Florian (11-4) vs. Clay Guida (25-10)

Paul Buentello (27-10) vs. Stefan Struve (22-3)

Preliminary Bouts:
Alan Belcher (14-6) vs. Wilson Gouveia (18-6)

Matt Wiman (10-5) vs. Shane Nelson (12-4)

Johny Hendricks (6-0) vs. Ricardo Funch (7-0)

Rousimar Palhares (9-2) vs. Lucio Linhares (13-4)

DaMarques Johnson (9-7) vs. Edgar Garcia (7-1)

Kevin Burns (10-3) vs. T.J. Grant (14-3) 

Source: Bloody Elbow

Brock Larson Eyes New Career

Brock Larson suffered more than a broken nose and a medical suspension at the Nov. 21 UFC 106. After a TKO loss to HIT Squad fighter Brian Foster, he was also cut from the UFC roster.

“It’s probably a good thing,” Larson stated via text message. “I was having a hard time getting motivated for my last two fights. I needed a change. The undercards just didn’t do it for me,” the veteran fighter said to MMAjunkie.com.

Larson, 32, is a member of the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, where he trains with the likes of Brock Lesnar, Sean Sherk and Nik Lentz.

With a very respectable 26-4 overall record (5 wins by knockout and 18 by submission), Larson, was the man to beat throughout 2006 to 2008 when he had a 4-1 run in the WEC.  His only loss was in an explosive title fight with submission master Carlos Condit. Unfortunately, his record also includes going 3-3 throughout his UFC career.

With his two fights in 2005 and 2006 with the UFC, Larson went 1-1 starting off with a loss to Jon Fitch at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 2 then, a win over Keita Nakamura at UFC Fight Night 7. This prompted a contract with the WEC and rejoining the UFC. He submitted Jesse Sanders and Mike Pyle in “Submission of the Night” performances, but then, he dropped a decision to Mike Pierce and didn’t look good in his TKO loss to Brian Foster at his last UFC performance. All four of this year’s UFC fights were on un-aired preliminary cards and according to Larson, contributed to his lack of motivation.

Larson is a great Guerrilla jiu-jitsu and wrestling fighter that should not be overlooked by Strikeforce and Japanese organizations such as DREAM or World Victory Road.

This holiday season you’ll have plenty of options to get off the couch and out of the house to see some great bands. If you know of any concerts you’d like us to list, just send the event information our way!

WEST COAST

NOFX W/ The Mad Caddies and Dead to Me

Dec. 4 @ 8:00 PM

The Fox Theater – Pomona, Pomona, CA

Vegas

Vandals

Sat, Dec 12, 2009 8:00 PM

Premier Las Vegas, NV

EAST COAST

311 with State Radio

The National

Richmond, VA

Nov 29, 2009 8:00 PM

The Misfits

*DEC 11 The Norva

Norfolk, VA

8:00 PM

*DEC 12

The National

Richmond, VA

8:00 PM

Bernard Fernandez from the Philadelphia Daily News has a very interesting article about the death of Francisco Rodriguez who, was fighting for the vacant USBA super bantamweight championship. The article is done very well and rather than muck it up with my editing, here it is in full. CageCoverge

ON HIS FIRST TRIP to Philadelphia, Francisco Rodriguez did what a lot of tourists do: He headed to the Art Museum for a photo at the Rocky statue. What else would you expect of a professional boxer who, a few days later, would be fighting for a minor title at the Blue Horizon?

“He was happy. He said, ‘When I get back to Chicago, I’m going to tell everybody, ‘I saw the Rocky statue!’ ” recalled Benny Baez, a Philly resident and former fighter who had been hired as a temporary addition to Rodriguez’ corner team.

The 25-year-old Rodriguez, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, known as “Paco” to friends and family, will never get to share that experience. Rodriguez was removed from life support at around 8:30 last night, according to his older brother and manager, Alex.

Rodriguez was injured during a 10th-round knockout loss to North Philly’s Teon Kennedy on Friday night in a matchup for the vacant USBA super bantamweight championship.

A minute or so after Rodriguez (14-3-1, 8 KOs) was helped onto his stool following the stoppage in the scheduled 12-round bout, his body went limp and his breathing became labored. Ring physicians and EMS personnel frantically administered to him before he was removed from the ring on a stretcher and transported to Hahnemann University Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery to relieve pressure for a brain bleed.

Despite the prompt actions of all concerned, however, Rodriguez was waging a battle that for all intents and purposes was already lost. His condition was listed as “extremely critical” following the operation, and it soon became apparent that his injuries were such that he would never recover. Family members who were initially reluctant to accept that grim prognosis eventually agreed that he should be unplugged from the machine that had helped him to breathe, and shortly thereafter he was gone.
Read more »

Roger Huerta’s MMA manager Jeff Clark released the information today that Huerta is now a free agent but, the UFC reserves the right to match all offers at this time.

“We’re free to negotiate with other organizations now, but the UFC has the right to match (any offer). We’ve had a lot of interest from different parties.”

Huerta also gave his thoughts on a possible return to the octagon, saying two wins would put him back in the mix at 155 pounds.

“I think two good fights would put me back in the mix for title contention. I think my two losses came to two really good guys and they were both by decision, the last one being a split decision that could have gone either way. Kenny became the number-one contender and Gray could easily become that as well.”

Huerta also gave his thoughts on joining Strikeforce, a move that obviously excites him.

“It would be up to them. but I’d definitely like to fight a top-caliber fighter like (Shinya) Aoki, (interim champion Gilbert) Melendez, or (champion Josh) Thomson. Obviously, I’d have to earn my stripes in that organization, if I went there, but any of those fights would be amazing.”

Source: Sherdog.com

Hureta was the first mixed martial artist to ever grace the cover of Sports Illustrated

The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday released the UFC 106 medical suspensions that are commonly handed out following mixed martial arts events. As is the norm, there were medical suspensions in the majority of the fights.

Forrest Griffin was suspended until Dec. 22 at the minimum with no contact until Dec. 13. He must have his right foot x-rayed and cleared by a doctor or he is suspended until May 21, 2010.

Anthony Johnson is suspended until Dec. 22,  no contact until Dec. 13.

Paulo Thiago is suspended until Dec. 22 with no contact until Dec. 13 due to a nasal bridge cut.

Jacob Volkmann is suspended until Dec. 13 with no contact until Dec. 6 due to scalp and nasal bridge cuts.

Luiz Cane is suspended until Jan. 6, 2010, at the minimum with no contact until Dec. 22. He must have a right orbital fracture cleared by an oral, maxilla, facial doctor or he is suspended until May 21, 2010.

Phil Baroni is suspended until Jan. 6, 2010 with no contact until Dec. 22 due to left eyebrow and left scalp lacerations.

Marcus Davis is suspended until Jan. 6, 2010, at the minimum with no contact until Dec. 22 due to multiple cuts. He must have a broken nose cleared by a doctor or he is suspended until May 21, 2010.

Brock Larson is suspended until Jan. 21, 2010, at a minimum with no contact until Jan. 6, 2010. He must have a broken nose cleared by a doctor or he is suspended until May 2010.

George Sotiropoulos is suspended until Dec. 22 with no contact until Dec. 13 due to a cut over his left eyebrow.

Jason Dent must have his left knee evaluated and cleared by an orthopedic doctor or he is suspended until May 21, 2010.

Source: MMA Weekly

UFC 106 fighter salary information from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the light heavyweight rematch between Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin, which took place on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas.

The following figures are based on the fighter salary information that promoters are required by law to submit to the state athletic commissions, including the winners’ bonuses.

Although mixed martial arts fighters do not have collective bargaining or a union, the fighters’ salaries are still public record, just as with every other major sport in the United States. Any undisclosed bonuses that a promoter also pays its fighters, but does not disclose to the athletic commissions (specifically, pay-per-view bonuses, fight of the night bonuses, etc.), are not included in the figures below.

MAIN EVENT FIGHTERS

-Forrest Griffin: $250,000 (includes $150,000 win bonus) def. Tito Ortiz: $250,000*

- Josh Koscheck: $106,000 (includes $53,000 win bonus) def. Anthony Johnson: $17,000

MAIN CARD FIGHTERS

-Paulo Thiago: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Jacob Volkmann: $6,000

-Antonio Rogerio Nogueira: $100,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus) def. Luiz Cane: $19,000

-Amir Sadollah: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. Phil Baroni: $25,000

PRELIMINARY CARD FIGHTERS

-Ben Saunders: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Marcus Davis: $27,000

-Kendall Grove: $44,000 (includes $22,000 win bonus) def. Jake Rosholt: $15,000

-Brian Foster: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Brock Larson: $26,000

-*Caol Uno: $20,000 vs. Fabricio Camoes: $10,000

*(The fight was ruled a draw. Both fighters received their show money only.)

-George Sotiropoulos: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Jason Dent: $8,000

UFC 106 DISCLOSED FIGHTER PAYROLL: $1,021,000

*Tito Ortiz was paid a flat rate of $250,000 to show, with no available win bonus.

UFC 106 AWARDS & BONUSES

(Each fighter was awarded $70,000 per award, which is in addition to his disclosed salary.)

Fight of the Night:

-Josh Koscheck vs. Anthony Johnson

Knockout of the Night:

-Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

Submission of the Night:

-Josh Koscheck

Source: MMA Weekly

Tyron Woodley def. Rudy Bears – Submission (arm triangle choke) – 1st Round (2:52)

Kevin Casey def. Chad Vance – Submission (rear naked choke) – 1st Round (1:41)

Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante def. Aaron Rosa – TKO (strikes) – 2nd Round (3:25)

Bobby Voelker def. Erik Apple – TKO (strikes) – 2nd Round (1:23)

Kerry Vera def. Kim Couture – TKO (strikes) – 1st Round (3:35)

Lucas Lopes def. Dominic Brown – TKO (strikes) – 2nd Round (:45)

Mike Chandler def. Rich Bouphanouvong – TKO – 3rd Round (2:07)

Darryl Cobb def. Gary Tapasua – Split Decision (3 Rounds) (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)

Nick Nolte def. Andrew Waters – Submission (Triangle Choke) – 1st Round (3:45)

Brian Davidson def. Russel Patrick – TKO (strikes) – 1st Round (:29)

Lee Gibson def. Joe Wilk – TKO (strikes) – 1st Round (4:39)

UFC 106 RESULTS AT A GLANCE:

Main Bouts (Pay-Per-View):
-Forrest Griffin defeats Tito Ortiz by split decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
-Josh Koscheck def. Anthony Johnson by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:42, R2
-Paulo Thiago def. Jacob Volkmann by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
-Antonio Rogerio Nogueira def. Luiz Cane by TKO (Strikes) at 1:56, R1
-Amir Sadollah def. Phil Baroni by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Preliminary Bouts (On Spike TV):

-Ben Saunders def. Marcus Davis by KO (Knee) at 3:24, R1

-Kendall Grove def. Jake Rosholt by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 3:59, R1

Preliminary Bouts (Non-Televised):
-Brian Foster def. Brock Larson by TKO (Strikes) at 3:25, R2
-Caol Uno vs. Fabricio Camoes ruled Majority Draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
-George Sotiropoulos def. ason Dent by Submission (Armbar) at 4:36, R1